It's
a miracle that South Korea still exists. With China looming
to its west and Japan nudging it from the east, it's no
wonder the country has played unwilling host to centuries
of war games. Poking delicately into the East Sea/Sea
of Japan, the little peninsula has proved an irresistibly
tasty morsel to its hungry neighbours. But no matter how
often they try to swallow it, South Korea, like plasticine,
comes out the other end largely intact.
South Koreans attribute their indigestible culture to
the binding agents of Confucianism, language and pride.
The stunning landscape has also played a big part in creating
a cohesive Korean identity. The country is swathed in
green, and the Koreans are obsessed with nature, and with
mountains in particular. Wherever you travel, you'll see
them out in the open air, clad in the latest adventure
fashions, pushing ever onward and upward.
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Major Tourist Cities / Areas Information: |
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Seoul |
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Major
Tourist Cities / Areas Information |
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Visa
Requirement |
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| Korea,
South Map |
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Country Fact*: |
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Full
country name:
Republic of Korea
Area: 98,480 sq km
Population: 48,598,175
Capital city: Seoul (pop 10.6 million)
People: Koreans, expats (mostly American)
Language: Korean, English
Religion: no affiliation 46%, Christian
26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%, other 1%
Government: Republic
Business Hours : Government offices
are open between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday
and until 1pm on Saturdays. Banks are open from 9.30am
to 4.30pm on weekdays and until 1.30pm on Saturdays.
Department stores are open seven days a week from
about 10.30am until 7.30pm and most markets and shops
keep longer hours.
Major
industries: Shipbuilding, cars, machinery,
electronics, machinery, chemicals, textiles
Major trading partners: USA, Japan,
Germany, China
Internet
domain: .kr
International dialling code: +82
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Calendar of Events*: |
January :
1st - New Year's Day
23rd-25th - Seol-Nal (Lunar New Year Days)
March
:
1st - Sam Il Jul (Independence Movement Day)
June :
6th - Hyun Choong II (Memorial Day)
July :
17th - Je Hun Jul (Constitution Day )
August :
15th - Kwang Bok Jul (Independence Day)
October :
1st-2nd - Chusok (Korean Thanksgiving Days)
3rd - Kae Chun Jul (National Foundation Day)
9th - Han'Gul / Korean Alphabet Day
December
25th - Christmas Day |
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